The NFL team said Grantham met Thursday with head coach Sean Payton but had no additional comment on the search to replace Steve Spagnuolo, who was fired last month after the Saints gave up more yards than any team in NFL history.

"In accordance with his contractual obligation, Todd Grantham notified me Wednesday night of the New Orleans Saints' interest in interviewing him for the defensive coordinator position," Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity said in a statement.

Grantham said earlier Wednesday that he's happy at Georgia and expects to be coaching in Athens next season — the same message he gave to the Bulldogs' newest players.

Georgia picked up 32 players on national signing day, including 18 on the defensive side.

"I told those guys, 'I love Georgia, I think this is a great place, my family loves it, I love it, and I fully expect to be here,'" Grantham said. "I told also told those guys that, as a coach, if things come up, you're always going to see what's best for your family and see what happens."

At the time, he wouldn't address reports that he was already planning to interview with the Saints, who also have a reported interest in former Dallas defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. Grantham said nothing had come up that would require him, under his contract, to notify Georgia he was looking at a similar job in the NFL.